Kid From Left Field, The

Movie Description

The 1979 Made-for-TV film, The Kid From Left Field, is an excellent remake of the same-titled 1953 film starring Dan Dailey. This most recent version stars Gary Coleman as a San Diego Padres batboy who inspires the team from the cellar to baseball's ultimate stage, the World Series.

In what's intended as a publicity stunt, Coleman is appointed as manager of the hapless Padres, who remarkably begin winning. A subplot involving the youngster's father (Robert Guillaume), a custody battle and an old rival (Gary Collins) flesh out the film.

Coleman is at his most engaging and expressive as JR Cooper, while Guillaume is his reliable and dignified best as the financially and emotionally-strapped but loving father.

The Kid From Left Field entertains effortlessly, with the strong underlying message that baseball, although a game, can still bring out the kid in all of us.